Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Clifton, NJ
🏆 Clifton leads 15 of 23 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475 ✓ Larger
Clifton
New Jersey
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,179
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
89,451
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 39°F
Households earn $8,866 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Clifton, NJ
Pros
61% less violent crime than Carson
Homes cost $188k less ($428,000 vs $616,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.4%)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,633 vs $1,815)
More college-educated — 34.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Median income trails Carson by $8,866/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$8,866
$103,045 vs $94,179/yr
Clifton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clifton
Violent Crime
61% lower
165.8 vs 420.0 per 100k
Clifton
Median Home Value
$188k less
$428,000 vs $616,000
Clifton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Clifton
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Clifton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $428,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,633⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $94,179 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 34.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Clifton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 50.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 ✓ Larger | 89,451 |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 40.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Clifton's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Clifton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clifton leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson wins 8 and Clifton wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Carson to Clifton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $428,000 median home), income ($103,045 vs $94,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Clifton, NJ are about 2,443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.